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Let me start this post off with apologizing. Negligent isn’t even the word I would use to describe my current blogging habits. I promise that I will try and be better. I also have to thank my blogging partner in crime, Kteb, for keeping this thing afloat. LOVE! Now…onto the food!

My work travels recently have taken me to the wonderful southern Germany city of Munich. Now, I had been to Munich once before, but it was for all of about 36 hours and I didn’t get to see much. This time I spent the entire week and stayed right near the city center. I had wonderful hosts who showed me some great places in the city. The first place we went was Brenner Grille. Unfortunately for you, I didn’t take any pics that night – give me a break it was my first night after an overnight flight. Brenner’s was great. The building that the restaurant is in, is the old horse stables from 19th century Munich. It’s got giant stone columns which are featured throughout and giant arched windows that allow you to see into the city center. It is an Italian restaurant where you choose between a salad, meat or fish main course and dessert. They cook on open grills in the middle of the restaurant, which provided a cool ambiance. I dined on dry aged, Irish beef and had a great panna cotta for dessert.

Now, onto one of my favorite meals…breakfast! Whenever I am in Europe, I try to take advantage of the typical European breakfast with sliced meats, cheese and fruit. Let me just tell you, I ate my weight in pretzels while I was there. To. Die. For.

Typical breakfast - pretzel, sliced meats & cheese, hot tea

The following night for dinner we ate at this lovely Italian restaurant (I know, I know…again!). Sadly, I can’t remember the name. If I do, I’ll update the post accordingly. Regardless, I had another amazing meal. Starting out with a chef’s antipasti plate – best carpaccio I’ve had to date. Additionally, my entree was awesome – fresh pasta with fresh shaved white truffles. For those who don’t know, I am a bit of a truffle monster. If they are in a dish, I have a really hard time not ordering it.

Pasta with fresh shaved white truffles

Dessert was also just as amazing – homemade gelato – fresh mint with lemon on the bottom. I wasn’t sure how I would like the combo, but they were bright and complimentary. Especially after such a rich, filling entree.

Homemade gelato!

My next day was filled with meetings in Munich…in Vits Cafe. This was an interesting place because it is also a coffee roaster. They have coffee from all over the world available to try in a variety of ways. I stuck with tried and true cappuccino but with their coffee of the week, an Ethiopian blend. To be honest, I’m not a huge coffee connoisseur, but this was VERY good. I could actually taste the chocolatey notes that they described in the menu.

Cappuccino

My last night I spent in a traditional German style beer hall/restaurant – Augustiner Bräu, established in 1328, it is Munich’s oldest still independent brewery and produces Munich’s most popular brands of beer. Their beer hall and restaurant is located in the city center right near the Marienplatz. It was bustling with families, single youngsters and older people enjoying beer, food and each others company. The seating arrangements are long tables, so since it was just two of us we shared a table with a group of five older German men.

I had to go with my traditional Munich fare – schweinshaxe mit knödel (pork shank with a dumpling and sauce). I mean really, need I say more?

I of course didn’t pass up a trip to one of the best beer cities in the world without sampling some of their finest offerings. I had the same beer throughout my meal, the Augustiner Edelstoff. A fine lager if I do say so myself. Augustiner describes it as, “A bright export beer, sparkling and fresh at the same time, brewed with the noblest raw materials. The high-class product of the old-Bavarian brewing art. A great treat for every beer expert.”

German Lager

All in all, my trip (including the work stuff) was pretty good. Excellent food, excellent weather and excellent company. I’m looking forward to my next trip back when I can continue to sample some of the best that Munich has to offer!